Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-22
stra5hia9tun Stanaara
THEHoUsE ON THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE AlDERS.
BIZ FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER VII.

BIZ FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER VII.
Very soon after Sarah's somewhat
harsh and uncaled-for reproof Of my
vanity | began to suffer punishment
for it. The country air. which had
brought unwonted roses to my cheeks
while the weather was fine and dry, at
fected me very differently when, in the
first days of September. the rain fell
daily in steady, continuous downpOur
that turned part of the marsh from
swamp into stagnant unwholesome
lake. The air round the house seemed
never free from mist: the lower part Of
the garden that tOu ched the marsh was
a bog; the moss grew greener and
thicker on the pillars of the pOrtico.
the untrimmed ivy that chung round
dripped all day long. and bright green
stains grew broader and broader down
the side of that wing of the house where
Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner's room was.
l often wondered why they slept
there. knew by the doors and win
dows that the ground-aoor of that wing
contained two rooms. a large and a
small one. My own was in the same
wing. but on the story above; and over
mine was turret that looked out high
above the trees, but which was not
used, so far as knew. Haidee slept
on the ground-floor in a cot in the
dressing-rOOm next to her parents bed
room, | knew. while the nursery and
90 nj ,ovo~o1 n ro ~oo,,,o
were on the upper story beside my own.
Why did not Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner
make one of these their own, and lift
themselves out of the reeking damp
which must be poisonous to delicate
Mrs. Rayner? Even l. who slept in
the upper story. soon began to lose my
color and my appetite, and to feel at
first languid, and then really i'll. l
showed the change more quickly than
any one, being less used to the place;
but little fragile Haidee soon followed
suit, and grew more wan and listless
than ever, until one day, putting her
little dry hand in mine, she said:
You are getting thin and white,
too, like mamma and me. Wen all
60 away and be angels together, Miss
Christie. now you have begun to love
me-"
burst into tears; I had begun to
love the fairy-like little creature long
before, if she had only known it. And,
after that, without any more explana-
ton or comment, the sympathy be-
tween the child and me was perfect.
But although the little ones love
was great solace it also brought
fresh trouble. For in Mrs. Ray
ner's dull eyes I could see a
flame of jealousy when the child
would rest her languid little head upon
my knee and say: Tell me a story,
Miss Christie, about fairies" I thought
Mrs. Rayner very unreasonable, and
from plying came almost to dis
like her. It was unreasonable to ex-
pect to retain the child's undivided af-
lection when she gave her no attention,
and yet at meals, when we all met
together, she seemed to look at Haidee
with strained, wistful eyes, as if she
loved the child, yet dared not show it.
But what was there to prevent her, ex-
cept the shroud of reserve she seemed
to have wrapped round herself?
The weather had been so bad that for
two Sundays we had not been able to
90 to church at all. So we knew moth
ing of what was going on in the parish
for two whole weeks. We did not have
to wait until the church-pOrch gather
ing on the following Sunday, though;
for ON the second day after the weather
had at last grown fine again. we heard
the sound Of horses hoofs coming
down the drive. Mr.. Rayner threw
open the window and stepped out on
to the broad space of gravel before the
front of the house.
'Hallo, Laurence, you are as wei.
come as the doye was to the ark! Come
in, come in. We have had no visitors
lately, but an occasional mermaid came
up the river from the sea and over.
flowed into our garden"
Cant come in, thanks. Mr.. Raynel
I'm too much splashed; the roads are
awful still. I've only come with note
from Mrs. Manners to Mrs. Rayner."
Nonsense! Come in, mud and all. y
So he tied up his horse and came in.
Mrs. Manners was the clergyman
wife. and generally sent her notes by
one Of her half-dozen boys; and 1 con.
fess thought, when l heard what 9
flimsy sort of errand had brought Mr.
Reade, that perhaps some other silly
motive had brought him.
But was disappointed. Mr.. Reade
devoted all his conversation to Mr.. and
Mrs. Rayner and did not notice me-
even when made remark.
I confess was piqued that he should
ignore my presence altogether, and
thinking would take small and i'm
potent revenge by ignoring his,
slipped out into the garden and begar
togather flowers for the tea-table. had
my hands half full when Mr.. Reads
came out and mounted his horse.
was near the bottom of the drive wher
heard him ride by behind me. I die
not look around until he called out
GOOD afternoon, Miss Christie;" and
then I just turned my head over my
shoulder and said. stidly: GOOD after
noon." and went on with my task. h
rode On 70 The gate, and then b,
stopped. and presently heard him Ut
tef impatient ejac0lations, and I lookei
and NV that be was fumbling With hi
whip q tho tastening Of the gate.
How stupid be 3 not 70 get az ani
opsn Il with bis hngsrs" I thought
eontemptuously.
However, he still continued to max.
Intellectual efforts TO raise the heav,
latch. stood Watching the struggle
intently. It seemed 70 mo that he de-
iberately missed al the best opportu
mites, and was frowning with lmpa
tience. when he suddenly looked uE
and his eyes met mine. There wa!
nothing for It then but In common CT
Witty to 60 and open the gate for hin
myself; SO opened 1t wide without {
smile.
Thank you. thank you. wouldn't
have given you SO much trouble fol
worlds. II only this brute would stano
stillr'
pray don't mention it. 1t is NJ
trouble at al" said, icily.
And he raised his hat and rode off,
had such curiously hurt and disap
pointed feeling-1 could not tell why
but l supposed that, being dependent
I was naturally very sensitive.
II dare say he wouldn't have let M
open the gate for him if ! hadn't beer
only governess. II thought. as lump
came into my throat. 3 81
And the flowers I was boxing at be
gan to grow misty. when again I heart
hoots behind me and the latch of the